Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has hit back at his critics this season. Rodgers, hurt by attacks on his nine summer signings and repeated stories about Steven Gerrard, Raheem Sterling and Mario Balotelli, is taking a leaf out of his predecessor Kenny Dalglish's book, drawing ranks and urging his players to prove everyone wrong.

"Seven months ago I was manager of the year, and tactically this and tactically that. Because we lost two world-class players, one out of the club (Luis Suarez) and one injured (Daniel Sturridge), I am useless," he said, curtly.

"Football is a critical world. For some reason in the modern game, people don't think new players need time to develop. It is not the criticism to me personally (that angers). I am thinking of the team and the club."